Texas Chainsaw Massacre Restoration Coming

MPI/Dark Sky Films have announced plans to release a new and exhaustively restored version of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” in time for the film’s 40th anniversary. The restoration will have its unveiling next week at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

Boasting a brand new 4K transfer, this is the first restoration of the film to go back to the original 16mm A/B rolls – the actual film that rolled through the cameras.

As it was shot on cheap 16mm ‘reversal’ film stock (ie. so there’s no negative), the restoration took five months to complete. Scanned in at 4K, a painstaking frame by frame correction process took place to remove scratches, stains, dirt, tears, and glue splices.

It was an extensive process, the color correction alone is said to have taken roughly 50 hours. Hooper was heavily involved in the process, along with lending a big hand to the newly remastered 7.1 soundtrack.

Details regarding the film’s theatrical re-release this summer will be announced soon.